Missile Mica

The MICA (Missile d'Interception, de Combat et d'Auto-défense) was conceived in the early 1980s following France's decision to develop a single, versatile air-to-air weapon rather than separate short- and medium-range systems. The objective was to create a missile capable of replacing both the Super 530D for medium-range engagements and the Magic II for close-quarters combat. After its first test firing in 1992, the initial version of the missile entered service in 1996.

This missile system is characterized by its exceptional versatility, serving in both air-to-air and surface-to-air capacities. Its defining feature is a unique modular design with interchangeable seeker heads: one version uses an active radar for all-weather, beyond-visual-range interceptions, while the other employs an infrared imaging seeker optimized for short-range combat and discreet engagements. Both variants operate on a "fire-and-forget" principle, guided inertially during their mid-course flight before the terminal seeker takes over. The missile achieves outstanding agility through a combination of aerodynamic control surfaces and thrust vectoring. Its payload consists of a high-explosive warhead with blast and fragmentation effects, triggered by a proximity fuze or on direct impact. A more advanced NG version is being developed to feature a dual-pulse rocket motor for increased range and terminal energy, alongside highly sensitive sensors capable of countering stealth targets and modern countermeasures. It is specifically designed to be independent of certain foreign components to facilitate exportation.

MICA is deployed on a wide range of platforms, including the Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighter aircraft, as well as land vehicles and naval vessels via the Vertical Launch (VL-MICA) system. Its operational use has been adopted by numerous armed forces globally for both aircraft armament and area air defense. A notable capability, demonstrated in tests, is its ability to perform "over-the-shoulder" shots, engaging targets behind the launch aircraft using data-linked targeting information from an allied asset. The missile has seen operational use, reportedly downing unmanned aerial vehicles during the Red Sea crisis. It has also been reported as successfully used by Ukrainian forces to intercept a Russian cruise missile.